“A path-breaking interpretation of the church that masterfully combines careful social analysis with rich theological insight.”—Douglas F. Ottati, Professor of Religion and Ethics, Davidson College

When first published in 1961, Treasure in Earthen Vessels was hailed by H. Richard Niebuhr as “the first real sociology of the church.” Here, James M. Gustafson examines the church as a human institution that must, and does, participate in the social structure of all human communities. His penetrating analysis remains an important contribution to the dialogue between the theological and social-scientific disciplines. Gustafson has written a new preface for this volume.